Coin and slug separator



J n 3,1941. w. A. mm Em. 243,926-

COIN AI ID SLUG SEPARATQR Filed Aug. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l WaZZerA. Traisc/z' William Paf/zer INVENTORS IVE/z ATTORN Egg 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. A. TRATSCH ET AL.

COIN AND SLUG' SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1938- June 3, 1941.

INVENTORS 12/5/12, ATTORNEY.

15 Walter A Zia/660E W WlLZz'am/ Patzer Patented June 3, 1941 OFFICE COIN AND SLUG SEPARATOR Walter A. Tratschand William Patzcr, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,585

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in coin testing apparatus and has as its principal object the provision of a coin chute including a sweep movable into and out of the chute passage to dislodge certain coin elements, and blocking means arranged to coact with the sweep to block the passage in the region below the same substantially at the time the sweep is actuated.

Another object is the provision of operating mechanism for correlating the operation of the sweep and blocking means, said mechanism being further arranged for either manual or automatic operation.

Another object is the provision of means for actuating the operating mechanism responsive to deposit of a coin in the chute.

Other objects, advantages and economies peculiar to the invention reside in certain details of construction, form, and operation of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are described in the following specification.

In'the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved chute with a portion of the discharge apron cut away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chute of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the interior of the chute with one of the cover plates removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the interior of the chute and the sweep;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the sweep mounting and operating means as viewed in the direction of line 11 of Fig. 4; while Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the manual operating means.

In a preferred form of construction, the improved chute is made of two separable sections I and H (Figs. 2 and consisting of a pair of cast plates of white metal or some other nonmagnetic material with mold formations defining a chute passage including a coin entrance [2 (Fig. 4) at the top of the chute, and a plurality of coin exits l3 and M at the bottom of the passage. The coin exit 13 constitutes a reject opening, and the coin exit l4 constitutes an acceptance opening. Communicating downwardly at a relatively moderate inclination from the entrance [2, is an upper chute passage section l5 which communicates with a Vertical passage section I6. Arranged at the bottom of the vertical section 16 is a drop-out ledge I! which is positioned opposite a drop-out opening [8 formed in the companion plate I0 so that a coin which descends onto the ledge I! will gravitate sidewise out of the chute through the drop-out opening [8.

Just above the ledge I1 is an oppositely inclined chute section l9 communicating from the vertical section into another but shorter vertical section 20 provided with a downwardly inclined ledge 2i terminating in the enlarged region above both of the exit openings l3 and I4.

Coin testing means is arranged in the region of the main vertical section l6 and includes a rebound anvil positioned to be engaged by coin elements of a predetermined character rolling down the incline l5 and operable to: effect rebound of such elements safely over the ledge I1 and into the oppositely inclined section IS. A smaller anvil 26 is positioned at the beginning of the section IE to absorb shock and prevent wear of the relatively softer material of which the chute is constructed, due to rebound of coins and also to contact by coins which are dropped vertically or nearly so, so as to strike the upper tip at the beginning of the section l9.

Coin elements which are spurious or made of relatively soft materials will not rebound properly from the anvil 25, but will drop onto the ledge I1 and pass out through the opening I8, and it is important to observe that coin elements leaving the upper section I5 must be possessed of a certain amount of kinetic energy in order to strike the anvil 25 properly, the vertical component of the force acting on the coin as it passes through the vertical section l6 toward the anvil being adequate to cause all but certain kinds of 'coins tol miss the anvil or at least strike it in such manner that they will not rebound into the oppositely inclined section [9, but will move into the drop-out opening l8.

A further testing means includes an elongated permanent magnet 30 (Fig. 1) attached by means such as the bracket 3i in any convenient manner on the outside of the chute opposite the vertical section I6 with the long axis of the magnet substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the section l6, so that the field of the magnet occupies the major portion of the vertical section l6. As a result of this arrangement, all coin elements are obliged to pass through the field of the magnet 30 and eddy currents are set up in such coins with the result that there is some variation in the energy possessed by the moving coin as it moves toward the anvil. However, genuine coin elements are affected so slightly that they strike the anvil properly and pass into the section 19 over the ledge H, but spurious and improper coin elements undergo an energy change adequate to cause them to drop directly onto the ledge H or strike either of the anvils 25 or 26 in a manner which prevents their rebounding into the section is, such coins thereafter being discharged through the drop-out opening I 8.

Arranged below the middle inclined section 19 is a further testing means in the form of a pair of permanent magnets 35 and 36 mounted on the outside of the chute sections with their poles arranged to maintain a strong field across the lower inclined section 2| for the purpose of further afiecting the dynamic properties of coinelements which are able to reach the lower section of the passage. Cooperable with the testing means 35-35 is a pair of selector elements 31 and 38 each provided with corn engaging points 31' and 38'and each adjustably mounted by the means 39 so as to position the points for engagement by coin elements moving off the lower tilted section 2| into the enlarged area above the exit openings 83 and M. The arrangement is such that proper coin elements will pass between the selector elements 3? and 38 and move through the exit opening l4 into a suitable receptacle. Improper coin elements which have negotiated the upper passage sections will, however, engage one or the other of the selector points 3i" or 38 and be deflected into the reject exit opening 13 as a result of the influence of the magnets 35 and 36.

In the event that magnetically attractable coin elements reach the section 21 and are arrested by the magnets 35 and 36, the coin passage would remain blocked, and in order to clear the chute of such coin elements there is provided a clearing means in the form of a sweep 49 (Figs. 4 and 5) pivotally mounted on pin means 4! seated in one of the chute sections H and rigid with a cam member 52 disposed on the outside of the section plate or casting (Fig. 3), it being pointed out that the pin ii is also rigid with the sweep as a result of the provision of a shoulder 83 keying the pin to the sweep (Fig. '7), so that the sweep and the cam turn together.

The floor of the lower inclined chute section 2! is formed by a raised portion of the plate II, and the sweep 4G is fitted closely against this raised portion for free movement in the chute when the plate sections are secured together, the

upper end of the sweep having an offset portion id (Fig. 6) which overlies the floor of the section 211 so as to positively engage any coin elements resting in the latter. The sweep is normally disposed out of the chute passage in the full line position illustrated in Fig. 4 or in the dotted line position of Fig. 6, so that coin elements may freely traverse the chute passage. By rocking the cam 42, the sweep will be moved from its normal position into the dotted line position of Fig. l or the full line position of Fig. 6 to dislodge any coin elements resting in the section 2i, such coin elements thereafter moving in the general direction of the selector elements 31 or 38, and because they will have started from rest, in the section 2i, they will in all probability be deflected by one or the other of the selector elements into the reject opening i3.

To assure that released coin elements shall not enter the acceptance opening hi, there is provided a blocking mechanism including an arm 53 (Figs. 3 and 5) bowed between its ends as at iii and mounted for rocking movement on the outside of the plate H by means of a headed pin 52 freely passed through the bowed portion thereof and anchored in the plate, there being a coil spring 53 about the pin normally urging the arm into position with its right-hand end portion 54 raised or drawn away from the side of the chute.

A blocking pin 55 (Fig. 5) is secured to the end portion 56 and projects through an opening in the plate H for positioning across the chute passage, as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the arm is rocked against the compression of the spring 53 so as to cause the end portion 54 to approach the plate. When the pin is thus projected into blocking position, all coin elements leaving the lower passage section 2| will be eifectively blocked against movement into the discharge opening it so that all danger of acceptance of coin elements dislodged by the sweep, particularly, is removed.

Mechanism for simultaneously operating the sweep and blocking means includes the provision of a slide bar 66 mounted on pin means Bi and 52 on the plate I! for vertical sliding movement, the bar having a longitudinal edge portion 63 offset to fit around the edge of the chute to as sure uniform movement or" the bar and also to provide for the operation by the bar of additional scavenging mechanism hereinafter to be described.

A pin 64 on the cam 42 fits into a slot 55 on an extension of the slide bar til, sothat reciprocation of the slide will efiect oscillation of the cam, the latter having a cam edge 56 which bears against the inner surface portion of the rocker arm at. When the slide bar is raised, the cam edge 66 will bear against the curved portion 61 of the rocker arm and project the blocking pin 55 into blocking position in the chute passage. The slide bar is provided with a normal spring l8 attached at one end to the pin 62, which in turn is secured to the chute plate Ii, and attached at its opposite end to a pin 7| on the slide,

thus urging the latter into a normally lowered position and retracting the cam 42 to permit normal positioning of the arm 50 by means of its spring 53, with the pin 55 likewise retracted and in ineffective position.

It will be recalled that the cam 42 is mounted on pin means di which is rigid with both the cam and the sweep 30 so that whenever the cam is moved, the sweep will likewise be moved, the arrangement being such that when the rocker arm 5i} is rocked into blocking position, as viewed in Fig. '7, the sweep to will be in coin dislodging position as viewed in Fig. 6.

An additional testing and scavenging means includes the provision of a pivoted side wall section or gate l5 pivotally mounted as at 76 near the top of the chute so as to normally close an opening in the side wall it opposite the upper chute section i5 and a portion of the vertical chute section 55. Spring and pin means 84 normally urges the gate into fully lowered or closed position.

An elongated drop-out opening ll is provided in the gate and extends collaterally with the floor of the upper slanting chute section 15 and has a width slightly less than the diameter of a desired coin element which the device is. intended to accept, coin elements, which are undersized in respect to diameter, dropping through the elongated opening Ti and into an exterior discharge chute 18 which descends along the outside of the plate I and terminates in a discharge opening 19 disposed alongside the reject opening l3, so that rejected coin elements of all kinds will be returned to the depositor.

Pivotally mounted in a pair of horizontally spaced ears 80 is a feeler having a nose portion 8| disposed for projection into the chute passage at a predetermined point through the elongated drop-out opening 71 for the purpose of engaging perforate and similarly irregular coin elements to arrest the same. The feeler has an opposite end portion 82 offset for positioning opposite the upper polar end 83 of the elongated or bar magnet 36, which is mounted by the bracket 3| on the gate. By means of this arrangement, the offset portion 82 of the feeler is attracted to firmly, yet 'yieldingly, project the nose BI into effective coin engaging position.

It will be apparent that various imperfect and spurious coin elements will be stopped by the feeler 8| and the bar magnet 30, and in order to clear the chute passage of elements thus arrested, means are provided for pivoting the gate into open position to dislodge coin elements engaged either with the finger 85 or arrested by the magnet 30, such dislodged coin elements dropping into the outside discharge chute 18 where they are finally disposed of.

'Means for simultaneously moving the gate and the finger and blocking member includes the provision of a cam nose 85 (Fig. 3) on the offset edge portion 63 of the reciprocable slide bar 6f], the nose being engageable with a lug 35 on the gate 75 such when the slide bar is raised, the cam 85 will rock the gate to open position.

An arrangement is provided for eirecting automatic scavenging of the device to operate the gate, the sweep, and the blocking member automatically by the act of inserting a coin in the entrance opening of the chute. To this end, there is provided a dog leg lever 88 (Fig. 3) pivoted as at 89 on a side of the chute near the entrance opening [2 and having a roller 90 on the shorter arm 9| thereof positioned at the upper side of the vertical portion i2 of the coin entrance opening so that each time a coin is urged into the latter, it will ride against the roller 90 and a companion roller 92 pivoted at the opposite end of the opening portion i2 so as to rock the lever 88, the latter, in turn, being provided with roller means 93 at its lower end and which bears against an intermediate lever 94 pivoted on the side of the chute as at 95 and having an end portion underlying a pin 96 spaced above the pin H on the slide bar. Thus, when lever 88 is rocked by the insertion of a coin, lever 94 will be raised to raise the slide bar, open the gate, pivot the sweep, and rock the block-ing member.

If desired, manual operating mechanism may be provided to replace the automatic means 88-40-84, such an arrangement being illustrated in part in Fig. 8, wherein there is a manually operated lever lliil pivoted as at l0] on the side M of the chute and having an end portion I 02 engageable with a pin I03 on the bar 68, an opposite end portion of the lever being offset to provide a handle IE4 which may be pressed down to raise the slide bar 60 and actuate the scavenging means in substantially the same manner as is effected through the automatic mechanism.

In operation, a coin element may be introduced through the entrance portion I2 of the passage, from which it will descend into the upper section IE to move past the elongated drop-out opening Tl, if the coin element be of adequate diameter, and through the field of the magnet 3b in the vertical passage section 16, whereupon it will strike the anvil 25, and, assuming that the coin element be a proper one, that is, of predetermined physical characteristics including a certain hardness, into the intermediate and oppositely inclined section l9. It may be observed that the anvil is preferably formed in a U shape, one leg of the U constituting the anvil proper which is disposed in a cut-out portion 21 in the casting at one side of the Vertical section It, so that the bight of the U fits around the adjoining edge portion of the plate with the opposite leg 28 of the U (Figs. 3, 4, 6) fitting against the outside of the same plate. Screws 29 are passed through the anvil portion of the U and through slightly elongated slots in the plate for engagement with the nuts 29 against the outside leg 28. By loosening the screws 29, the anvil may be raised or lowered slight amounts to effect proper rebound of the desired coin elements.

If the coin elements are of a relatively soft material, such as lead, type metal, and the like, or if they are underweight like cardboard and fiber discs, they will drop onto the ledge I! at the bottom of the vertical section and fall out through the drop-out opening i8. On the other hand, if the rebound is adequate, the coin elements will continue down the section l9 and into the section 25] for movement through the field of the magnets and 35, reactionary forces being set up in the metallic coin elements as a result of passage through this field, the genuine or desired coin elements reacting in a predetermined manner so as to pass between the selectors 31 and 38 for movement into the acceptance opening l7.

Should a magnetically attractab'le coin element be arrested by the magnets 35 and 36, the subsequent deposit of a coin element will eifect reciprocation of the slide 6!] and a resultant movement of the sweep to dislodge such coin element, the same thereafter moving toward the blocking member which at this time will also be disposed in blocking position as a result of the movement of the slide bar 6! so that the released coin must descend into the reject opening i 3. Coin elements arrested by the feeler 8| or the vertically disposed bar magnet 30 will be released by the operation of the gate in the manner aforesaid.

The objects and advantages of the-invention may be accomplished by other arrangements and forms of. construction than that specifically described for purposes of illustration herein, and the appended claim is therefore not limited to any precise form of construction or operation, but is to be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the state of the art.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a coin testing device, the combination of means providing a coin passage terminating into coin acceptance and reject exits, test means communicating with the passage and adapted to arrest coins therein of predetermined character, an arm mounted to sweep across the face of said test means to dislodge a coin attracted thereto, a pin, adapted for movement through an opening formed in said first means in a direction transversely of the passage, to block coins moving down the passage toward the acceptance exit, means pivotally supporting said arm for said sweeping movement, rookable means carried. by the first said means and supporting the pin for saidtransverse movement, means for moving said arm in sweeping action across the face of said test means, an element of said arm-moving means being adapted to engage said rockable means to move said pin in said transverse direction simultaneously with the movement of said arm in sweeping action across the face of said test means.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

WILLIAM PATZER. 

